MANAMA, April 3 (Formula One) - Michael Schumacher moved closer to matching Ayrton Senna's pole record in Bahrain on Saturday - then paid an emotional tribute to the three-time former world champion.

Schumacher scorched to the 58th top spot of his career for Sunday's historic race, to leave him just seven poles short of the record set by Senna before his premature death in Italy almost 10 years ago.

The world of Formula One will pay their respects to the Brazilian in three weeks' time at the San Marino Grand Prix at Imola where Senna was killed after his Williams crashed into a wall on May 1, 1994.

"When you think about it, it is hard to remember what happened," admitted Schumacher after maintaining his perfect qualifying record this season by taking pole position from Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello.

"I remember watching him drive in 1980 when I saw him in karts, that is a special moment for me. To see him driving and the ability he had compared to everyone else in the field.

"It is not necessary to speak of his achievements afterwards as they are obvious. Records are not what push me, though you are glad when they happen."

Barrichello, who Senna visited in hospital just hours before his death after the young Jordan driver had also been involved in an accident, said: "I think people are going the wrong way on this.

"Ten years is nothing different to the 11th year or the ninth year. In a way for me he has always been present.

"Living every day with the emotion of being a Brazilian you live every day thinking of Senna. For me going there is going to be the same way as the last few years."

Schumacher took top spot by just under 0.4 seconds from Barrichello as the Ferrari duo monopolised the front row of the grid for the second time in three races this year and technical director Ross Brawn even had time to take a telephone call during the session telling him that his beloved Manchester United had taken the lead against Arsenal in their FA Cup semi-final clash.

Schumacher admitted it had not been an easy lap, although he now looks poised to claim a third successive win this season in Sunday's race - the first ever grand prix in the Middle East - at the magnificent #100million desert circuit.

"I didn't get the best line but I think a few of us had that problem," added Schumacher, who already leads the championship by seven points.

"I was confident I could fight for pole but I didn't know whether it would happen or not.

"It is a very technically demanding and difficult circuit. But that is okay, we do not just want an easy business. I think it is going to be a very interesting race tomorrow.

"But I feel easier on the track now compared to last season. I am more consistent but I think that is down to the car and being able to get the maximum out of it."

The Williams duo of Juan Pablo Montoya and Ralf Schumacher were both quicker than the reigning champion early in the lap before finding themselves alongside each other on the second row.

It will be an all-BAR third row though with Japan's Takuma Sato ahead of Jenson Button for the first time after claiming his best-ever starting slot.

Button had looked a contender for his first pole, just two weeks after grabbing his maiden podium, after setting the fastest time in both practice sessions earlier in the day.

But he had to settle for sixth, though still well in contention to make a quick return to the victory celebrations.

Fellow Brit David Coulthard qualified 10th, having lost too much track time after sliding off during first practice as McLaren's season of woe continued.

Team-mate Kimi Raikkonen aborted his lap, knowing he would be relegated 10 places from his qualifying slot having needed a new Mercedes engine.

The Finn, yet to score a point this year, is now likely to start from the pit lane where he should avoid any first-lap mayhem with the sand and dust expected to wreak havoc among the field.